Wednesday, February 27, 2008

I watched Vanderbilt upset newly minted number one Tennessee last night. The Commodores outplayed the Vols and deserved the victory on their home court. Vandy stud Shan Foster is a baller.

My problem was with the Vandy student body and their lack of a celebration afterwards on the court. They allowed 10 rent a cops stop a potential student party mob of a thousand. This is the ESPN highlights of the game and pay attention to the student section.

Here is the another post game video and notice the low number of cops with their weak barricade.

Vandy just beat the number one team in the country, an in state rival, and this is how the students celebrate? Lame.

College fans are usually criticized for unjustly spilling on to the court when a victory does not warrant such outward revelry. Not the other way around.

while the thing about the fines may be true...i highly doubt that's what the students were thinking. that doesn't take away from mac g's point that they allowed themselved to be dissuaded by a skeleton crew of cops. hell i support it. i think storming the court/field is bush league anyway.

whats it cost to go to Vandy? Those students are worried about the school getting fined 25K? Or they are pussies who are unable start a good riot. Someone has to take one for the team. William Wallace would be pissed.

Storming the court when beating a number one team is a no brainer and could be argued one of the few times it is actually justified.

At Iowa, we tore down the goal posts on the home field of Minnesota when we clinched an undefeated big ten season in 2002.

They are still pissed up in Rodent land about Hawkeye fans brazen disregard to their property.

It was awesome.

Oh, the glory years. Now I just wait to read about the next arrest and Kirk Ferentz contract extension. Yes, Im bitter.

although the vols were number 1, vandy is right there with them whether their ranking said so or not. vandy has now won 7 in a row, and are always very stout at home. no court rushing needed. score one for the smart kids.

HOWEVA!!! (steven a. smith voice) rushing an opponents field and ripping down THEIR goal posts is just good old fashioned vandalism and therefore hilarious. on the other hand it only shows how stupid defacing your own field is. you might as well be an auburn fan.

Just to clear things up, I'm a Vandy student and this is text from the email we got the morning of the game. It lists the penalties for students for storming the court.

Our Men's Basketball team needs you tonight as we take on #1 University of Tennessee on ESPN at 8:00 pm! The guys need your support and enthusiasm, so come early, be loud, and cheer the Dores onto victory!

That being said, many are familiar with the SEC Fan Access Policy regarding the unauthorized access of fans and students onto any playing surface. This policy is in place to keep your fellow student-athletes safe. Injuries have occurred where in the midst of a post-game celebration, someone has been hurt, and we want to avoid that at all costs. We are not denouncing post-game celebration by any means, but we need to find a safe and responsible outlet. If our students go onto the playing surface, it would be Vanderbilt's third offense. While punishment for a third offense has yet to be fully defined by the SEC, there is potential for a relocation of the student section away from the court. Moving the student section would be a horrible detriment to both the student body and the athletes, who so heavily rely on our support. Therefore, we ask that we think. Think about how important it is to have the privileged student section that we currently have. Think about how our teams are impacted by the enthusiasm and energy we give to them. Think about the safety of our community. Think twice about rushing the court again in the near future, no matter how big the victory. Our trust with the SEC, University administration and the Student Athletics Department is at stake here.

Please be aware that at any home sporting event, should fans or students go on to a field or court, the following may apply:

· That fan or student may be subject to arrest.

· That fan or student may be subject to losing all ticket privileges to every sporting event for one calendar year.

· Vanderbilt Students may be subject to judicial proceedings, as we do have a process in place to identify students who violate this policy.

· That fan or student may share in paying any SEC fine that might be levied.

In all sports, access to the competition area shall be limited to participating student-athletes, coaches, officials, support personnel and properly-credentialed individuals at all times. For the safety of participants and spectators alike, at no time before, during or after a contest shall spectators be permitted to enter the competition area. It is the responsibility of each member institution to implement procedures to ensure compliance with this policy.

Institutional penalties against individuals who improperly enter the competition area shall include, but not be limited to, expulsion from the facility, arrest for trespassing, and the loss of future ticket privileges. In addition to these three penalties, violators who are students shall be subject to institutional disciplinary measures.

The recent storming of the field from Minnesota after they beat Iowa last weekend gas brought this issue up at Big Ten schools as well. Some media are saying it’s poor form by the Gophers to rush the field while others are saying it’s an important rivalry win for a rebuilding program. There’s been a good debate at TC Huddle. I found your article searching for more opinions on the issue.